News: Google explains why it shut down Linda Ikeji's blog

Linda Ikeji was accused by a number of people of constantly plagiarizing and lifting articles from websites without giving credit to original sources. As a result, the blog was shut down yesterday.

The action has since sparked lots of controversies as many of her fans took to the various social media pages to lament and blame ‘witches’ and ‘haters’ for the tragedy.

Clearing the air on the misconception, Google’s Manager for Communications and Public Affairs, Anglo-Phone West Africa, Taiwo Kolade-Ogunlade, in a chat with Punch newspaper, explained why the blog was taken down.

He said Google takes the issue of copyright seriously, adding that the company belongs to a group of Internet firms that abides by the provisions of the Digital Millennium Copyright Act and other applicable copyright laws.

“To respect the rights of copyright holders, Google clearly spells out how users of its products and services can get permission to use someone else’s intellectual property such as text, songs, images and footages. Google is no respecter of anybody when it comes to the issues of copyright infringement.

“Google as an organisation takes issues of copyright seriously and belongs to a group of digital companies that respect copyrights.
“Copyright is a big deal and this is why you can’t just go and pick up another person’s intellectual property or content and lay claim to its ownership.

“It is not a case of witch-hunting and has nothing to do with Linda Ikeji’s personality or anyone else because there is a process, and irrespective of who you are in the world, that process would apply to you.

“It has become imperative for online entrepreneurs to respect the rights of copyright holders noting that the Internet community should be built on mutual trust and general respect.

“Let’s respect other people’s rights and intellectual property. Making money off other people’s content without permission is wrong. Although the Internet is inanimate, it is the content on it that gives it life. These are the issues.
“Whenever owners of online contents come after you accusing you of using their content, it is because they have families to feed and businesses to sustain.

“People should also understand that copyrights does not only apply to text, but also extends to literary works, images and photographs, music files and MP3s, movies, movie trailers and videos as well as software”, Kolade-Ogunlade explained.

According to Radar Nigeria, Linda is set to start a TV Show as cybersquatters have ‘parked’ all possible domain names she can use.

Personally, I believe @LindaIkeji will bounce back stronger than ever before. She'll become a model of how New Media should really be done.
— Mr. Aye Dee (@MrAyeDee) October 8, 2014

Every setback is merely a setup for a comeback, and those counting @LindaIkeji out for the count are going to be very disappointed.
— Mr. Aye Dee (@MrAyeDee) October 8, 2014

Those who think @LindaIkeji got to the peak of her financial career with an SUV will sh*t bricks when she acquires her first private jet.
— Mr. Aye Dee (@MrAyeDee) October 8, 2014

I am sorry to say this, I know Linda Ikeji has many more readers and fans at the moment who may diss for what I'm about to say, but as a very blunt person, I will still say it!
Maybe, just maybe a little 'sorry' would have gone a long way.
Maybe Linda should have just apologized when they were tweet-hitting her before it degenerated to this level. All those guys wanted was just a little acknowledgement. You remember, those tweets I posted, way back? Of course, no one is rejoicing because this can happen to anybody PLUS nobody knows what can befall anybody the next day, but 'Sorry', 'Please' and 'Thank You' are words that should come easily!!!
Let him who is without sin cast the first stone (Everybody's guilty)!!!!

How can @lindaikeji go through my TL STEAL ALL my photos, then do a story without even crediting me? I work for you? @omojuwa @toluogunlesi
— Elnathan John (@elnathan) April 15, 2014

Dear @lindaikeji take that story down and apologise for this theft. I have not even dropped my camera &you publish my photos without credit?
— Elnathan John (@elnathan) April 15, 2014

All Linda Ikeji had to do was apologise, give credit & get off her high horse a little. 'Twas a little thing, really...
— Temisan Okomi (@temiokomi) October 9, 2014

An alarm bell should have gone off when she realised someone else had registered http://t.co/FtI1ASQ42R before they moved to other names
— Olumide Iyanda (@mightyng) October 9, 2014